Arsenal: Emile Smith Rowe must do what Reiss Nelson couldn’t

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe is turning heads at Huddersfield. We just need to ensure that he doesn’t pull the same thing Reiss Nelson pulled at Hoffenheim.

Emile Smith Rowe has now made three consecutive starts for Huddersfield, on loan from Arsenal. In those three starts, he has earned the high praise of the boss, and in his last match, he notched a clutch goal and assist.

That officially takes his goal contribution totals to twice that of Mesut Ozil‘s, but surely that’s none of my business.

Smith Rowe had been used exclusively as a No. 10, and according the young man himself, that was the plan all along since his arrival. He’s there to play No. 10 or as one of two No. 8’s, but thus far, it’s been all replicating the Mesut Ozil role, just more effectively.

We’ve always held Smith Rowe in high regard, but it’s just been a matter of helping him get to the next level, where he can compete at the level that Arsenal expects out of their players.

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Thus, the loan made sense. But the loan made sense for Reiss Nelson too, and I’m just hoping that Smith Rowe doesn’t go the same way as Nelson. Because Nelson’s loan to Hoffenheim looked perfect at first. He shot out into the top 10 Bundesliga scorers and then fell off the face of the earth. He didn’t score again, he had some disciplinary issues, but still, he came home optimistic and, by his own admission, very much matured.

Only it didn’t work out. At least it hasn’t yet. While he was given first dibs at the role, he quickly fell away and all that promise was buried underneath injuries and underperforming. Not exactly the best place for the guy.

Emile Smith Rowe has a ton of optimism in this loan now, and we should too. But the big difference we need to see is that success translating into his return to the Emirates. Because I’d so much rather have Smith Rowe slide into the starting job than have to worry about signing someone else. Or worse, sticking with Mesut Ozil.

On the bright side, his loan is in England, so the physicality that so overwhelmed Nelson will be no stranger to Smith Rowe. Still, until we see the rest of this loan play out, we won’t know what to expect.

Thankfully, I’m optimistic, so it’s not like I’m going to believe in anything other than success.